Method of obtaining a combustible mixture of fuel and air



C. A. ORR.

METHOD 0E QBYAINING A COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURE 0E FUEL AND AIR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.14. 1921.

Fulcrum.;-

Patented @et 31, 1922.

MMWR@ STATES 1,994,62 PATENT @fmt CARLETON A. OBR, OF PUEBLO, COLORADO.

METHOD OF OBTAINING A COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURE OF FUEL AND AIR.

Application led November 14, 1921.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CARLETON A. OBR, a citizen of the United States, residin at Pueblo, in the county of Pueblo and tate of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Obtaining a Combustible Mixture of Fuel and Air; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

rllie present invention relates to a novel and improved method of obtaining a combustible mixture of fuel and air, and has for its object the provision of such a method of mixing fuel and air as to obtain an eicient combustible mixture which. will burn thoroughly with an effective flame.

As a more specic object, the invention aims to obtain a combustible mixture of fue] and air by discharging fuel and air under pressure independently from opposite directions toward one another so that the independent streams of fuel and air impinge against one another within the combustion chamber, to mix directly at the point where the combustion takes place.

The hydrocarbon burner apparatus, constituting one form offapparatus for carrying' out the invention, is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein the figure is a diagrammatical view o f the apparatus, portions being broken away.

Although various kinds of apparatus can be used for carrying out the present method, the apparatus as disclosed in my copending application for patent Serial No. 343,887, filed December 10, 1919 (Patent No. 1,415,- 364) has been shown as one preferred means for accomplishingr the method of obtaining the combustible mixture -of fuel and air. The apparatus is illustrated as designed for use on a steam motor vehicle, but can be used for other kindred purposes, and, as shown, the apparatus includes a steam generator or boiler 1 having the burner pan or bowl 2`at the bottom (which may be lined with asbestos or other refractory material) and the smoke cap 3 at the top from which the chimney 4 extends for the "outlet of the products of combustion. rThe fuel is delivered into the burner pan 2 at one side through any suitable nozzle 5 from a fuel vtank 6, .and the apparatus will burn kerosene, gasoline, alcohol, crude oil and other fuels successfully. A

Serial No. 515,181.

pipe 7 leads from the tank 6 and has a manual controlling valve 8 for establishin and stopping the flow of fuel manually, an said pipe.7 leads to an automatic pressure valve 9, from which the fuel supply pipe 10 leads to the nozzle 5. The valve 9 has connected thereto a steam pipe 11 leading from the boiler 1, whereby the valve 9 is automatically opened and closed by a reduction and increase in pressure, respectively, so that the fuel can flow past the valve 9 when the pressure is low and will be restricted or checked in its flow by the increase in steam pressure. The fuel is maintained under pressure in the tank 6 so as to How under pressure to and through the nozzle and, for this purpose, the compressed air tank 12 is provided, and may be disposed next to the fuel tank 6. The tanks 6 and 12 have the respective pressure gages 13 and 14, the air in the tank 12 being under high pressure, whereas the pressure in the tank 6 is comparatively low. The tank 12 has a valve and hose connection 15 for convenience in pumping air into said tank at intervals, and the tank 6 has a filling neck 16 through which the fuel is poured into the tank. r1`he air is delivered from the tank 12 into the tank 6 by means of an air pipe 17 leading from the tank 12 and preferably connected toxthe neck 16. A pressure reducing valve 18 is disposed in the pipe 17 for the passage of air into the fuel tank 6, but restricting such How so as to maintain a predetermined low pressure inthe tank 6. The neck 16 has a valve chamber 19 therein into which the air flows from the pipe 17, and a check valve 20 is disposed in the chamber 19, being normally held open by the cap 21 which is removably secured on the neck 16, whereby when said cap is removed for filling the tank 6, the valve 20 is released so as to prevent the discharge and waste of air from the tank 12. In this manner, when the cap 21 is removed for filling the fuel tank 6, the flow of air from the tank Vl2 is automatically stopped, and such flow will be reestablished when the cap 21 is again applied to the neck 12. The valves 8 and 9 being open, will deliver the fuel under pressure from the tank 6 to the delivery nozzle 5.

An air fan or blower 22 is used for supplying an abundant How of air to maintain combustion and tog create a forced draft through the boiler and down the chimney 1.

The air conduit 23 extends from the lblower 22 and delivers the air into the-.burner Dan 2 opposite to the fuel nozzle 5, whereby the inlowing streams of fuel and air are directed toward one another in opposition, both the air and fuel being under pressure. The fuel is sprayed from the nozzle 5 and the air and fuel impinging against one another, will result in the particles of fuel being broken up into a i'ne mist or vapor, similar to the action of the wind when striking water delivered from a hose nozzle,which causes the drops of water to be broken into a fine mist. In this way, the fuel is thoroughly atomized and mixed with the air, and can be lighted instantly without using a carburetor, vaporizer, generator or similar appliance. This `simplifies the burner by eliminating burner plates, vaporizer, priming burner, etc. With the present arrangement, the fuel and air are delivered into the burner chamber from opposite directions and this will vaporize the fuel and mix the fuel and air thoroughly. It is preferable to provide a set ofvanes 24 within the delivery portion of the air conduit or pipe 23, -which are twisted into helical or spiral form, whereby to give the stream of air a whirling motion, thereby enhancing the vaporization of the fuel and mixture of fuel and air.

The operating means of the blower 22 embodies an electric motor 25 disposed in an electrical circuit 26 having the battery 27 or other source of electrical energy, and a hydraulic or pressure switch 28 is disposed in said circuit and has connected thereto a branch pipe 29 leading from the fuel supply pipe'lO at that side of the valve 9 opposite to the fuel tank 6. Any suitable hydraulic or pressure switch can be used, whereby to normally open the circuit when the pressure is low, and to automatically close the circuit when the pressure is increased. Thus, when the valves 8 and 9 are v open, the pressure of the fuel from the tank 6 will close the switch 28, in order that when the fuel is delivered from the nozzle 5, the motor circuit will be instantly closed and the blower 22 operated to furnish air at the same time that fuel is discharged into the burner. Conversely, when the steam pressure closes the valves 9, to shut off the flow of fuel, the reduction in pressure will automatically open the valve 8, so as to stop the blower at the instant that the discharge of fuel is stopped.` The fuel and air are thus automatically and simultaneously delivered into the 'burnerand shut offy according to pressure.

ln order to ignite the fuelwhen. the flow of fuel and air is started, a yconductor 30 is branched'from the circuit 26 asa shunt parallel with the motor 25, and has connected thereinan automatic electric cut off time switch 31 of any suitable kind,- and the ,condutor 30 leadsv through the primary coil of an upon entering the burner chamber.

ordinary or suitable spark coil 32, the switch 3l operating to open the spark coil circuit after the current ows for a short interval. The switch 31 is normally closed, so that when the switch 28 is closed, the current will flow through both the motor 25 and spark coil 32, but the switch 3l will open the spark coil circuit after a lshort interval whereas the motor 25 continues to operate. The Secondary circuit 33 of the spark coil 32 is connected to the spark plug or igniter 34, and the spark coil 32, will, as usual, induce a high potential current in the circuit 33 when the current flows through the primary conductor or circuit 30, which will result in the igniter 34 igniting the fuel. it being noted that the igniter is energized at the instant the fuel is delivered into the burner and the flow of air started.

In' operation, supposing that the valve 8 is closed so that the apparatus is at rest, the valve 9 being opened due to the reduction in steam pressure in the boiler. rlhe valve 8 being closed, will reduce the pressure in the fuel supply pipe beyond such valve so that the switch 28 will remain open. To start the burner, the valve 8 is opened, and the fuel will flow past said valve 8 and valve 9 through the pipe 10 and nozzle 5, and at the same time, the switch 28 is closed by the fuel pressure, thereby closing the motor circuit and starting the blower 22. The air is thus supplied at the Sametime that the flow of fuel `is started, and, furthermore, the closure of the switch 28 enables the electric current to How past the switch 3l thereby energizing the spark coil 32 which will result in the igniter 34 igniting the fuel immediately The igniter 34 is stopped after a short interval, by the automatic opening of the switch 31, and the ignition device is thus brought to rest, as it is no longer needed'after the fuel is lighted, being only brought into operation when the flow of fuel and air is first established after having been cut down. When the steam pressure increases to a point for which the valve 9 has been adjusted, said valve will be closed, thereby shutting olf the flow of fuel and the switch 28 will then open to stop the blower. When the pressure of' steam reduces, the valve 9 will open, thereby reestablishing the flow of fuel, closing the switch 28 to start the blower and,-,-at the same time, energizing the igniter 34, thesame as before.

By this method, the fuel and air are discharged under, pressure vindependently into the combustion chamber through their respective nozzles from substantially .opposite directions toward one another, sol thatv the independent streams of fuel andjair limpinge against one another within said chamber,

,causing a thoroughbreaking up of the particlesl of fuel and a mixing of the fuel and 10 rections toward one another, so that the streams of fuel and air mpinge against one 'another Within said chamber.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this 'specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnessses.

CARLEToN A. oRR.,

Witnesses:

W. B. CANN, EZORA GRIFFITH. 

